Edmonton kid sometimes waits 90 minutes, is late for school due to bus driver shortage

A parent in Edmonton says her son has waited 90 minutes just to get on a bus after school because of a bus driver shortage.

Nadine Riopel says it’s gotten to the point where the school’s vice principal has called her to ask her to pick her son up herself.

“She said, ‘Your son is asking me to call you because we’re still here waiting for the bus at five o’clock’ – school lets out at 3:30 – ‘and he was hoping someone could come and get him,’” recounted Riopel, the mom of a Grade 4 student.

Riopel is one of the many parents whose kids are affected by the shortage.

Edmonton Public Schools say they’ve had a 22 per cent increase in yellow bus ridership this school year. Edmonton Catholic Schools say they’re experiencing several delays in 10 per cent of their bus routes.

Riopel says her son has had to stay after school and has been marked absent a few times because his bus to school was delayed.

“We picked a central neighbourhood, we sent him to the neighbourhood school – it should all be very possible to drive less,” said Riopel. “But since the bus is always messed up, it doesn’t work out.”

The general manager of school bus provider Cunningham Transport says she’s sorry to the parents and kids who’ve been impacted by the shortage.

“I understand their frustrations with late buses. I get it,” said Laura Doroshenko. “We don’t want the kids to get to school late either.”

Training program ‘scaring people away’

Cunningham Transport, which provides buses for Edmonton schools, says they’re facing a 15 percent driver shortage. Doroshenko says few drivers are applying for a part-time job with limited hours – adding it’s not as simple as paying people more.

“Rising fuel costs, rising insurance costs, it’s been a struggle for bus contractors all across Alberta,” said Doroshenko. “Small rural mom-and-pops have been struggling with that exact thing. And now added to it the cost of the 53.5 hour 2-S MELT program.”

That’s Alberta’s driver’s license training program for bus drivers – mandatory after the 2019 Humboldt Broncos bus crash. She said the 53.5 hours of training is putting off potential drivers.

“It is scaring people away from the system,” said Doroshenko. “They don’t want to spend the time training for a part-time job.”

Sign for Cunningham Transport LTd. school buses. (Credit: CityNews/Sarah Chew)

In response to these concerns, the office of the Minister of Transportation said they’ve already taken several actions to eliminate financial barriers for companies, including capping training fees at $5,000 and enabling school bus companies and school divisions to become licensed driver training schools to reduce costs.

The office of the Minister of Education said they have been monitoring the situation closely, and they encourage parents to stay in contact with their local school board, so they are kept up to date regarding any student transportation changes or adjustments.

In the meantime, the shortage remains, but school bus providers are currently open to new drivers – even parents frustrated by the shortage.

“I’d love to have you come drive for us – we’ll get you trained, we’ll get you out on the road if you want to help,” said Doroshenko.